Congressional Candidates Face Off at Heated Debate

The four local candidates for Congress faced off during a rather heated exchange on Tuesday, at a debate sponsored by the Arlington County Civic Federation.

While Independent Jason Howell and Independent Green candidate Janet Murphy focused on changing the current state of affairs by overcoming partisan battles, Republican Patrick Murray largely set his sights on taking jabs at incumbent Jim Moran (D).

Murray said one topic he actually agrees with President Obama on is disgust over certain members of Congress using privileged information to benefit on Wall Street deals. He aimed his insider trading frustrations directly at Moran.

Moran denied any illegal involvement with such deals and downplayed his alleged wealth.

“I was never at this meeting where supposedly insider information was disclosed,” said Moran. “I have zero assets, I live in an apartment in Arlington with my son, and the financial disclosures will show you my asset value of zero.”

Regarding a question to candidates about the situation in the Middle East and strained relations with Israel, Moran said he supports the recent Syria uprising. He doesn’t, however, support sending American troops to assist with the situation.

Following earlier remarks referring to Moran as anti-Semitic, Murray honed in on the topic of relations with Israel. He was the lone candidate advocating increased support for the country.

“We have one solid, strong, democratic ally in the Middle East and that is Israel,” Murray said. “I have a great concern with where we are with our relations with Israel. If I’m your congressman, I will always support Israel 100 percent.”

Murphy was most adamant about not increasing support to Israel.

“I think we’re doing way too much for that ally,” she said. “I think they’re off base in Palestine entirely. I think we’ve had way too much of re-organizing the entire Middle East to their purpose.”

Howell suggested the U.S. foster other relationships in the Middle East, such as with Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

“With all the friends that we have in the Middle East, and all the challenges that there are in the Middle East, we should find better ways and nuanced ways, innovative ways to lean on those partners,” said Howell.

Turning to domestic issues, the candidates discussed the validity of more investments in clean energy. Moran stated his belief that America relies too heavily on fossil fuels, and pushed for more funding in areas like solar and wind energies.

“The fact is that this world is warming, that the climate is changing,” Moran said. “We will all pay the price, but not as steep a price as our children and grandchildren, if we don’t do something today.”

Moran stated that the collapse of Solyndra was an inexcusable, unfortunate incident, but it’s the exception and not the rule. He therefore advocates investing in other clean energy companies.

Also referring to Solyndra, Howell said the government isn’t always proficient at choosing companies to invest in, so he instead advocates “investing in ideas” rather than targeting specific companies to receive funding.

Murphy said America is “late to the game” in promoting clean energy, and she would like to see fossil fuel use end altogether. She would like to impose a 25 cent transaction tax on each Wall Street transaction, which would be set aside for green energy jobs.

Murray said he’s for green initiatives, if they’re functions of the free market. He also favors building the Keystone Pipeline.

“That is 200,000 jobs. And not only that, it is 50 percent of our reliance on OPEC oil right there,” Murray said. “It is the biggest no-brainer we have.”

One debate attendee brought up Americans’ dissatisfaction with Congress, as reflected in the downward trend of its approval rating. The person asked why any incumbents should be re-elected at all.

“Why should you re-elect any of them? You shouldn’t,” said Murphy. “We need to just snap out of it and stop getting dragged around by whatever subliminal messages we’re being told to respond to in these advertisements.”

Murray concurred, claiming current members of Congress are quick to point fingers at others for partisanship, but shirk their own responsibilities. Murray then took another jab at Moran, which garnered some gasps and boos.

“We have a situation now where 144,000 people in Virginia are going to start losing their jobs. It’s all defense spending,” Murray said. “Who sits on the Defense Appropriations Committee? Who’s the Congressman of this district? Who’s been spending money like a crack addict for 22 years?”

For the most part, Moran avoided slinging accusations and attempted to turn attention to what he’s achieved during his time in Congress. He mentioned working in a bipartisan manner to fund projects over the years, such as Metro’s expansion in Arlington.

“When you don’t want to share your policy and vision with your constituents, you rely on personal attacks,” said Moran. “This is one of the finest places to live and work and raise a family in the country. And I’m proud of the fact that I’ve had some small, constructive role in achieving that objective.”

In light of the sometimes nasty atmosphere during the debate, Howell capped off the night by reiterating his focus on civility and working together.

“Some of the problems we have in Congress is just a great deal of disrespect,” he said. “I’m going to bring the same respect to Congress that I’m happy to offer Mr. Moran and the other candidates tonight.”

No big Moran fan am I, but this Murray guy is a piece of work. He should get a blog.

Ncanaan

Compared his spending to, not him to.

FedUp

Murray must think that personal attacks work.

Id

Tell that to the Obama Administration.

swiftboater

tell that to John Kerry

drax

Check your facts before you make allegations like that, Patrick. It blew up in your face.

Patrick

The facts are that Jim Moran sold his stock holdings in 90 different companies in 2008 the day after a meeting between some congressmen, Secretary Paulson and Fed. Chairman Bernanke. Jim Moran was the poster child of congressional insider trading.

Yes, Patrick, you have no brain if you think a pipeline will lower oil prices. It will just be more oil – at the same price. Doesn’t matter where it comes from, it costs the same. OPEC controls prices even if you never buy a drop from it.

Learn some economics, Patrick.

Patrick

Missed where in the quoted statement he said that approving the keystone pipeline would lower oil prices. I think he said it would create jobs. drax learn how to read it might help your world view.

drax

Here, let me help you find it:

“And not only that, it is 50 percent of our reliance on OPEC oil right there…”

darsasx

Again, another fail – the quote you provided has NOTHING to do with the price of oil.

drax

Well, yes, that’s my POINT.

Price is all that matters. Doesn’t matter if the oil comes from OPEC nations or not.

Id

OPEC only has control if we are dependent upon its supply. We buy 1/3 of our oil from OPEC countries plus Brazil. You cannot say the supply has nothing to do with it. Why then, every time we have a release from our strategic reserve, the price of oil temporarily goes down? Look at the price of natural gas. With fracking, and the new discoveries of reserves, natural gas prices are at an all time low.

drax

“OPEC only has control if we are dependent upon its supply.’

That’s the myth I’m exploding.

OPEC controls PRICES. Even if we don’t buy a drop of OPEC oil, they control how much we pay for it.

The strategic reserve has about 30 days supply of oil. It can’t take prices down more than a few cents for very long. It’s not a solution. And to use up our strategic reserve – which is for emergencies like a major war that disrupts oil supplies – to regulate the market is a bad idea. It’s desperation.

OPEC has nothing to do with natural gas, nor does the Keystone pipeline.

Mr. Brown

Drax- that doesn’t say the prices will go down, just that the oil won’t be from OPEC. Even if it’s not cheaper, I would still rather buy it from America than buy it from someone else.

drax

Leaving aside the fact that all the oil from different sources mixes together in the pipelines and refineries anyway, your desire to buy oil from a certain source simply on principle is not a good enough reason to overcome the good reasons for not running a new Keystone pipeline, such as the threat to the huge aquifer that feeds our food supply.

Mr. Brown

Your logic makes sense, as long as you understand that you are putting a risk to the aquifer over thousands of jobs. You have every right to that opinion, but don’t act like it’s an obvious choice. There is no evidence of environmental damage, only risks that have not happened. The oil ‘mixing together in the pipelines are refineries” is a straw man… I’m talking about jobs and money, not some idea that American oil is somehow chemically better than other oils.

SouthArlJD

Murray’s numbers for the Keystone Pipeline are ludicrous, but his declaration that it would solve the problem of our dependence on OPEC ventures into sheer stupidity. He seems like a nasty piece of work, particularly when one considers that the whole reason the sequester is on a track to happen is due to his own party’s intransigence and unwillingness to embrace the Grand Bargain worked out between President Obama and Speaker Boehner. No, thanks to the brinkmanship of the GOP’s debt ceiling debacle, this poison pill sequester was worked out and voted in by the REPUBLICAN Congress because it was thought they might actually come to their senses and actually deal with the President in a logical way to come up with a balanced approach of cuts and revenue increases (that’s tax hikes, y’all). Well, the GOP just CAN’T bring itself to raise taxes, so now we’re looking at a sequester. Why Jim Moran didn’t go after Murray on these facts is beyond me. Maybe he’s feeling pretty secure and doesn’t see the need.

Patrick

He probably didnt go after him on those “facts” because those aren’t actually facts. The sequester to defense spending was pushed by democrats to counteract the republicans cuts in discretionary spending. And as has been well documented by the NYT there is plenty of blame to go around on all sides for the collapse of the grand bargain. But believe whatever makes you feel good about your political leanings.

Nunya

Oh no he dit’Nt!

DCBuff

A “key” problem with Keystone pipeline oil–no guarantee it will stay in the U.S. to solve all our oil dependancy problems. In fact, it is pretty much guaranteed that some of the oil, once refined, will exported. Yes, the USA exports oil distillates.

drax

And it doesn’t even matter where the oil comes from. Oil is oil. All that matters is the price. And oil is set on a world market. OPEC heavily influences that market, and hence the price. U.S. or Canadian oil isn’t going to be cheaper for us.

The whole “if only we could drill more of our own oil or get more from a pipeline we could tell OPEC to screw themselves” scheme is nonsense.

Id

There are at least 200,000 waiting to be created with the pipeline. The next President within a day can have those a reality, if they choose to do so. Romney if elected, will be able to start fulfilling his promise with job creation right after he is sworn in with a stoke of the pen.

drax

No, 20,000 jobs, not 200,000. And that’s just one estimate (by the organization that wants to build it). The State Dept. estimated 5,000 to 6,000.

An independent group with no dog in the fight also did an estimate: the Cornell University Global Labor Institute said the jobs would be 500 to 1,400, not all in the U.S.

A pipeline from Canada through the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico through Louisiana is only going to produce 1,600 jobs? You really believe that?

drax

It’s only a shortcut line to expand capacity of the existing Keystone Line. The line from Canada to the Gulf already exists – it’s not a brand new line from north to south. It would create some constructions jobs, temporarily, and a few more.

Josh S

I think it is a helluva lot more believable than 200,000.

In any case, any new jobs that may or may not be created have to be compared against the possible negative consequences of building the pipeline. Jobs are great, but they aren’t necessarily the most important thing.

Id

How about the derivative business that would be produced from such economic activity? Is that factored?

Isn’t there an ex-wife involved??? Could explain the zeroing of assets.

Buckwheat

Moron makes $174K per year in Congress and he has no money!

No wonder the country is upside down!

Lee-n-Glebe

Trusts he “doesn’t control” perhaps?*

* the preceding statement has been nothing more than a baseless, wild-a$$ed guess. I offer no cites nor proof, as I have none.

Id

zero assets and living in Arlington? Sure. And I know the Tooth-Fairy.

drax

Because living here is cheap, so he could save up?

Stitch_Jones

Moran is a bully and a disgrace. Has no assets? What a lying sack.

Regis

but FACTS!

Tara

Murphy is an idiot. Oh yeah, let’s not fund Israel? They are an ally that is our freakin’ base in the Middle East. Hopefully an air conditioning unit falls on her feet tomorrow while she is walking around Arlington.

KalashniKEV

Israel is not our ally. They do not contribute troops, money, or weapons to our ongoing wars. They ARE closely linked to the roots of our current conflict, however. We’ve propped up Israel to the tune of well over $140 Billion since their beginnings. It’s time for them to stand on their own two feet.

Id

Israel will never let another Holocaust happen again. It will be the next country to use a nuclear weapon in defense of itself. It will never let another Holocaust happen again, which is why every citizen is required to serve in the military. Allowing Iran to go unfettered and with the lack of leadership from this Administration is pushing it and the Middle East region closer to war. With Iran’s recent cooperation agreement signed with North Korea, the situation is even more dangerous. Due to the strategic importance of the region and the US relationship with Israel, we are going to get sucked into such a conflict.

KalashniKEV

In the past, we would have gone to war to protect Israel, but not today. There just isn’t any support for it. The Zionists will continue to use state sponsored terror via the MEK to attack the Iranians, we will do their bidding and apply sanctions, and the Iranians will continue to just take it. Israel is unable to strike unilaterally and won’t find support for either the strike itself strike or protection from the aftermath of a strike. Eventually Iran will announce, “We have a nuclear weapon” and it won’t pose anywhere near the threat that the Pakistani or Israeli nukes do.

Josh S

Tara, the world really is a wee bit more complicated than you think it is. Did you know, for example, that for many years Egypt received an amount of foreign aid that was approximately the same as the amount given to Israel?
Israel’s best interests are not the same as our best interests. Unqualified support for Israel makes no sense.

Regis

Did you know that for many years we supported Iran?

KalashniKEV

Did you know that we currently label Iran as an “axis of Evil” country while carrying out the wishes of the House of Saud and other backward Gulf monarchs?

Id

Our support ended in 1979 when the Shah was overthrown and the Mullahs took over the country and the American hostages.

Lee-n-Glebe

A $0.25 tax on “Wall Street Transactions”? What a completely empty, populist-pandering, and valueless sound bite. How exactly would Her Geniusness propose to define a “Wall Street Transaction”?

JimPB

Defining a financial (Wall Street) transaction would not seem to be a difficult problem as 40 countries have such a tax.

Greg

If you want the financial sector to collapse FOREVER then a 25 cent tax is a great idea. The government shares in the blame for the financial crisis and has sole responsibility for our current debt. I’m all for green energy, but it needs to come from the private sector. Modest tax credits are fine but we can’t subsidize uneconomical green ideas, of which there are many.

Arlwhat

If “the government shares the blame for the financial crisis”, who are they sharing that blame with since they also, “have sole responsibility for our current debt”? Or are you claiming that none of the current debt is related to the financial crisis?

Greg

A trivial amount of the debt is related to Wall Street. Each of those banks paid back TARP plus dividends and a healthy profit on the options. You can argue there are 2nd order effects of the financial crisis that contributed to the debt, but they are 2nd order effects to dozens of things and it’s hard to blame Wall Street for Defense spending, Obamacare, Social Security and Medicare, Fannie and Freddie, etc etc.

Bon Air

What happens the next time they collapse and taxpayers are on the hook?

Trivial, right?

Greg

The money that bailed out Wall Street has all been paid back, and then some. I can’t say the same for the GSEs or community banks or auto industry or anyone else who got money. So, I don’t buy that for a second.

It’s fun to hate on Wall Street, but it’s the reason we are where we are. Who do you think lends money and makes investments in companies and brokers investments in companies? There’s some shady business for sure but not shadier than any other industry, including the government.

Josh S

You might as well mention spending on foreign aid as well as Obamacare – both are trivial contributors to the budget/debt as compared to defense and entitlements.

Greg

That’s a part of etc etc. Obamacare may not have an impact yet but the fact is that it will contribute to the debt and the reason it doesn’t contribute more is because of the increase in my taxes and millions others. That money could be used to pay down the debt but is instead funding Obamacare.

Courthouse Diva

What about the bailout of the GM and Chrysler? We’ll never see the billions we gave them. At least the banks paid us back.

Huh???

The car industry HAS paid back – 6 years early & at 19% interest… What part of that is not good?

Id

Hey Huh??? In order for GM to break even the stock price has to reach 56.00 a share. Go see what the market says when you read this. GM also has an exemption from paying Federal income taxes for the next 10 years so that they can show a profit on their books. What other company has the privilege? GM is 35 billion dollars in the hole. If it was allowed to properly go through Bankruptcy, it would have reorganized it debts, but that would have meant the union contracts would have needed to be re-negotiated, so it was avoided. Due to politics this became a monster.

Josh S

You’re all for green energy, but it needs to come from the private sector?
Do you beleive that the existing energy infrastructure is entirely the result of the private sector? It’s not, so why should we treat “green” energy any differently? If anything, there are more reasons to subsidize “green” energy now than there were to subsidize the rise of the fossil fuel energy infrastructure created 100-150 years ago.

Greg

Because we’re 13 trillion in debt. I said I’m fine with modest tax credits but the government and lobbyists intervened to force ethanol down our throat. All we get is reduced fuel efficiency, higher corn prices, and a lower supply and higher cost of other vegetables.

Improved technology needs to lead the green energy initiative, not the government spending billions on inefficient and immediately-antiquated technology.

Id

Oh, yeah, as well as the United States having the highest corporate tax rate in the world.

Shane

Murray absolutely destroyed MorOn tonight!!! What a hilarious line about comparing MorOn to a crack addict. Serves these DemocRATs right to elect someone like MorOn when you had 144k defense industry jobs in your district. Maybe if you had elected Murray then Speaker Boehner would have spared you people. But you didn’t, so you don’t.

Think about that with the Presidential election coming up. Vote for Romney, or the country gets it when we shut down the government and default next spring.

Greg

Maybe in your world, where Jim Rome and Around the Horn smack talk dominates, he won. But to most professional and mature adults, he looks like an uninformed petulant child. I don’t like Moran but I don’t want an immature polarizing person representing me in Congress.

bobbytiger

Immature? Polarizing? I believe you just described Moron to the T.

Greg

Seems he took the high road in response to Murray’s remarks.

drax

I think your juvenile insults speak for themselves, Shane.

Josh S

Yes. Complete with the “clever” use of capitalization and wordplay. These are not the contributions of someone with a lot to say.

Josh

I was at the debate on Tuesday night. After hearing Moran put the blame on the Republicans because they are the majority party and Murray making personal attacks I was reminded of why most people hate politics, specifically politicians.

Both Murray and Howell were very civil, especially compared to Moran and Murray. However, Howell was perhaps the only candidate talking about specific bills and in my opinion did the best job answering the audience’s questions.

JnA

This should be Patrick Murray’s last run for Congress. He does not have the temperament for the job.

pipeline to disaster

….”Murray said he’s for green initiatives, if they’re functions of the free market. He also favors building the Keystone Pipeline.
“That is 200,000 jobs.”

I say: Mr. Murray jobs are important but they are not the ONLY thing that matters. Keystone WILL NOT create 200,00 jobs, but it will create a reason for Canada to destroy more and more of the greatest forest in the Northern Hemisphere (Boreal Forest) higher gas prices in the U.S. as that oil is destined for the Asian markets. Stop lying to voters about Keystone XL pipeline

B

Howell seems to be a good guy. I just don’t trust Murray or Moran.

Chris S

Jason is a great guy. Surprised more people aren’t talking about him instead of the spats between Murray and Moran.

Not Me

Sadly… If it bleeds, it leads.

That’s why we deserve what we get. Society does not listen or seek opinions from bright, perhaps less narcissistic, but most certainly MORE QUALIFIED folks who avoid the limelight, or at least do not seek it.

No instead we give all the attention (and votes) to the BLOWHARD WINDBAGS who aren’t good at much more than whining and fake tanning.

This is the state of our political arena.

Where we assemble the greatest ASSES of our time to argue about who’s ‘righter’ and ‘more patriotic’ while the rest of us go about our lives and hope they don’t SCREW IT ALL UP.

So, we get what we deserve. Not me, but us as a collective.

Bluemontsince1961

I’ll vote for Howell, too. I think he’s a great alternative to Moran and Murray. Shame that he probably won’t win, though.

Jack

R’s and D’s descended into their typical name calling and personal attacks. Sounds like the independents came out smelling like roses…

Since I’m not an environmentalist wacko nor a communist, I’ll have to check Howell out

Chris S

Definitely check Jason out. Known him for ten years and what you see is what you get. He’s not a “politician”, but that’s precisely the point!

Bluemontsince1961

I know what you mean about the R & D personal attacks, etc. Seems to get worse every election. I wish the Rs & Ds would tell me what their ideas are for improving things for the regular average people like most of us instead of telling me how bad, evil, awful their opponents are. That would get my attention and more likely my positive vote than the usual hold my nose and vote for the lesser of two evils.

Oscar

I agree with B. and Chris S, Jason is the best candidate! The debate highlighted how the candidates will act in congress. Either attacking the other party or wasting precious time defending themselves. I’m a registered Democrat, but will definitely cast my vote for Mr. Howell. I think Arlington is modern enough to let go of the old partisan ways. We’re one of the best counties in which to live, we should have our representative reflect that.

ArlingtonWay

So tiresome. Everybody playing their part. The fuzzy green party dunderhead. The angry tea party whacko. The blustery but not too smart blame the other party entrenched partisan Congressman. And the unknown regular guy who has no chance in hell of winning. We’re doomed. Utterly doomed.

Citizen We

We need new leaders like Jason Howell in office. The old establishment has run their course. We all need to wake up and realize that our current state of affairs will only get worse, of we don’ t speak up and act. We need new ideas, innovation and cooperation to make real strides. We need solutions! I welcome an entirely new class of patriots!

Bon Air

Somebody is seriously saying we need to do MORE to support Israel?

New Canaan

What a bunch of schlubs. If you all were smart enough to fix and/or run the government, you’d be doing it. Instead, you’re all sitting here pretending to speak with authority or experience where none exists, except for what seeps into your thick skulls as you lazily wait out your existence, preventing legitimate people from getting things done.

Greg

That’s not true at all. Some of us don’t want to take a pay cut or hang out with the type of people that currently run our government.

Besides, I’m socially liberal and fiscally conservative. Those types of people don’t get elected. The Republicans have fiscal conservatives and social conservatives. The Democrats have the fiscally irresponsible and socially conservative. You don’t win elections if you don’t follow a party line.

Bon Air

Everyone claims they are fiscally conservative.

But when you need to get re-elected every two years, you tend to shy away from necessary and painful decisions (tax increases, spending cuts, entitlement reform) that would leave you vulnerable to defeat.

And this is where we are.

Id

No one is running it, because it needs to be limited. Provide for the common defense. Protect the borders. Maintain the roads. But otherwise, stay the hell out of the rest of our lives.

Constitutionalist

Borders and Common Defense are arguably the same thing. Roads ? That’s the biggest federal boondoggle in the history of boondoggles. Sure, Eisenhower justified it as a “Defense” measure based on the need to move military hardware around the country in case of invasion, but please. The Feds have no business in Roads. At least if you believe in limited government.

Bean Pole

The only reason to vote Moran is to vote more of the same.

Kal

I attended the debate and thought it was pretty entertaining. Congressman Moran (D) spun everything to blame Republican’s causing all the problems. COL Murray (R) was very disrespectful, personally to the Congressman, and really laid the accusations on thick, even alleged Moran was involved in insider trading. It was stereotypical “This Is Why I Hate Politics” politics. Janet Murphy (I-Green) sounds like an unprofessional hippie. I am all for “green,” if it is sensible, doable and thought through. But when you are making a stance, and you end up only quoting your parties Wikipedia page, and sounding like a burn out while doing so (and her cell phone rang, mid sentence), you are doing your cause NO good. In her defense she at least spoke on a few of her ideas, without having to attack or defend the entire forum like Moran and Murray. Jason Howell caught me off guard. He was witty and very in tune with the audience, but being likeable doesn’t do constituents any good. Then he started talking. For being an average guy, independent without a party he is incredibly in touch with reality and issues. His ideas were on point, his respectful demeanor to his competitors was shocking, and he was charming as well as intelligent, which do not typically go together in politics. I look forward to seeing Howell in the race, and see how he reacts when it gets down to the wire. Right now, since the blame game is all you see in the parties, and the Green party candidate wouldn’t be allowed to fertilize my lawn much less be my Congressman, I’ll be looking at the independent guy sitting alone and seeing what he does.

bobbytiger

Col. Murray was “very disrespectful” to Moron? Good for him.

Kal

Yes, he was highly disrespectful and it made him look like an angry hotheaded fool. I’m on equal terms with both democrats and republicans, and think that both sides have great people with great ideas. Witnessing this guy lash out was awkward. It reminded me of the ridiculous videos of politicians getting irate and punching fellow incumbents. If you wanted Congressman Moran out so bad, maybe his republican competition should be more sensible like the Howell guy.